Manydown Park

This is where Harris Bigg-Wither lived and where he proposed to Jane Austen in the winter of 1802. Jane became a great friend of Catherine Bigg and was a frequent visitor at the Manydown estate until she withdrew her marriage acceptance in December 1802. 

Manydown was an important, respected, and socially connected estate during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. This lifestyle is greatly reflected within Austen's works and the Manydown estate is likely a source of material for many of her story settings.

("Manydown Park." Parks and Gardens, www.parksandgardens.org/places/
     manydown-park. Accessed 14 Nov. 2022.) 

 

See the source image

Parent Map

Mansfield Park Map

Coordinates

Latitude: 51.276088800000
Longitude: -1.152641800000

Timeline of Events Associated with Manydown Park

Date Event Manage
2 Dec 1802

Harris Bigg-Wither Proposes to Jane Austen

Harris Bigg-Wither proposes marriage to Jane; she first accepts, then withdraws. In 1802, Jane and Cassandra were invited to stay at Manydown by the Bigg sisters Alethea and Catherine, who were the Austen sister's childhood friends. Here Austen spent time with the family and Harris before he proposed to Jane in December. This is the only marriage proposal Jane Austen receives within her lifetime (that we are aware of). She initially accepted his proposal because she had no independent income and was in want of financial security, but the next morning she realized she did not want to go through with it as she did not love him and withdrew her acceptance. Bigg-Wither was 5 years younger than Austen, who was 26 at the time, and he was the second of 9 children.  The day after she withdrew her acceptance of his hand in marriage, she and her sister left Manydown to go back home. 

("Marriage Proposal from Harris Bigg-Wither." Digital Austen, www.digitalausten.org/node/26. Accessed 14 Nov. 2022.)

 Harris Bigg-Wither Portrait